Torridge

Torridge's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in work life, health and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 64,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Torridge increased by 8.3%, from almost 59,000 to 63,800.

The addition of almost 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torridge was home to, on average, 0.46 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South West's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Torridge

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Torridge increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This agricultural area had the third-highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 16% of people in Torridge are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Torridge

The number of people in Torridge from the White ethnic groups decreased from just over 58,000 in 2001 to just over 63,000 in 2011. As a share of the total population, the percentage remained close to 99%.

Across the South West, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 98% to 95%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Torridge from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 250 in 2001 to about 430 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.7%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 220 to about 270. Both of these figures represented about 0.4% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 67 people (0.1%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 51 in 2001 (0.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Torridge remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Torridge residents that were unemployed decreased from 3.7% to 3.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage of Torridge residents that were self-employed increased from 15% to 16%.

The proportion of unemployed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Torridge

Torridge saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Torridge reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.3%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 6.5% to 7.5%) and Teignbridge (from 7.3% to 8.0%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, Torridge overtook 12 local authority areas, including Mid Devon and North Devon, to become the South West local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Torridge working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Torridge decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torridge, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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